Late in the game, with the lead, needing a 1st down to ice the game

[PhillyB]

sad that a falcons fan is posting the most well-thought-out, reasonable material on a panthers board right now

some of you need to burn your keyboards

[CARuthless]

It was good playcalling all night just not EXECUTED correctly at the very end.

If Cam doesn't fumble we get the 1st down along with the W. Then everyone cheers aobut how great everything went... Unfortunately thats not what happened.

[megadeth078]

We could have iced that game at that point?

Yes....by scoring and stuff. You know, you can score more points even if you already have a lead.

[HeatCheck]

Yes....by scoring and stuff. You know, you can score more points even if you already have a lead.

1st downs aren't points. You can't ice a game with a first down with 4 mins left. We still stopped them after that 2nd to last drive. I am sure you be critical of drives back in the first half if you want to go back.

[Silent Majority]

We would have converted if Cam had held on to the ball. So not sure you can blame the play call.

Since we are playing ti "ifs and buts" game... if Hangartner wouldn't have gotten blown the fug up, maybe Cam wouldn't have fumbled. A lot more going on than this simple fumble BS.

[footballisasport]

The way we have reacted in that scenario is so freaking weird. How many times have we converted that first down we've needed in the past two seasons? Is this a mental thing that gets into Chud and Cam's heads? The playcalling suddenly turns to complete poo and Cam plays at his absolute worst.

Surely I'm not the only one that's noticed that right? As soon as I saw we needed a first down late, I knew we wouldn't. Absolutely knew it.

Why in the blue hell is this? What are we doing wrong?

I have to LOL...You folks are well aware of how bad your team plays but will refuse to admit it.

Cam carries the ball... his O-line was suppose to block and help him get the ball into the endzone. What happens...The player falls, which in turns causes Cam to trip over him and bounce into the opposing player while falling to the ground...which inturn causes the ball to get knocked lose. The ball was recovered and the coach had a decision to make...go for it or punt the ball away. He choose to punt the ball away because he trusts the worst defensive team in the league to stop the opposing team. The other team capitalizes on it because they use their heads better. Game over.

Once again the outcome of this game reflects the sheer incompetence of this team. amazing that it's not Smitty's fumble for a return TD that you folks harp over...Nope, it's the fact that your QB fumbled a ball he recovered and had enough time to win the game if the coach had taken a chance.

I can't take you folks seriously at all. Your spin is worst than the crap in the sports media.

[megadeth078]

1st downs aren't points. You can't ice a game with a first down with 4 mins left. We still stopped them after that 2nd to last drive. I am sure you be critical of drives back in the first half if you want to go back.

4:50 left in the 4th quarter, only 1-point lead, content with the amount of points we have, calling wildcat play, not even bothering trying to get a first down. I don't see how you can defend our conservative play. We were afraid that we would have to move the chains to win the game and cowered at the challenge.

[HeatCheck]

Since we are playing ti "ifs and buts" game... if Hangartner wouldn't have gotten blown the fug up, maybe Cam wouldn't have fumbled. A lot more going on than this simple fumble BS.

I am saying don't blame it on the play call. Blame it on the execution whether that's Cam securing the ball or as you say Hangartner blocking his man. The OP was blaming the play call when in reality the play call would have lead to a first down.

[Proudiddy]

So, I am glad my team prevailed.

I told everyone the Panthers had the talent to make this a game and they didn't disappoint. The team played very well. I really think I saw one dropped passed by the Panther receivers and they had good separation all day. The offensive line gave cam lots of time in the pocket and played really well thanks to them.

The defense played really well maintaining pressure on Ryan all day, I think I mentioned Clabo was struggling and Johnson had a career game against him. People complaining on Nakamura should keep in mind Safeties shouldn't be singled out one on one with wide receivers especially not one as talented as Roddy white. Olson was really good, gave us fits more than the numbers indicate.

Worst coaching part of the game by the Panthers in my opinion was the lack of urgency at end of the 1^st half. Those who did not like the punt in the 4^th quarter on the 4 and 1, I disagree and any NFL coach will make that call every time when you sacked the opposing QB 5 times.

Those claiming that it was not team loss need to question if their Panther fans or team fans, anyone remember the non catch that Cam didn't hike the ball quick enough? The fumble in the last few moments of the game. Cam had a game but he contributed to the loss as well as the close win its a team game.

You win as a team you lose as a team. Carolina is a better football team than its fans or the Media believes and the Panthers made me a believer.

Btw not a big fan of that option read runs, be good to see you all in a power I or broken I running down peoples throat with your talent on O.

Look forward to next match up, good luck on your guys health.

You may be the most awesome non-Panthers fan to ever grace this board with your presence.

Great post, perspective, and objectivity. Looking forward to more of your posts...

That being said, in regards to SMF's original post... I made the same complaint last year when we started giving games up in the second half. Chud definitely completely hunkers down and goes conservative with the lead in the second half.

When Deangelo lined up in the Wildcat, I was thinking, "Chud, you better not do it." He did. If we all know he's going to run it, so does ATL, and they attacked the play immediately and blew it up before he could reach the corner.

There was no creativity on our part, and no need for second-guessing on theirs. Just poor play calling. You've got to walk that line between keeping an offensive rhythm with manageable downs to keep the clock running and taking the kill shot.

At the least, if you drop Cam back in a spread formation or empty backfield, you give him the option to read the field and if nothing is there, he can scramble. To come out in run formation after run formation, it was a matter of wills because they knew what was coming... They won out.

[BadMoonRising]

I know its tough as fans not to second guess this stuff after your delt a close loss, but I think your coached call a hell of a game other than that end of 1st half stuff, I never understood the lack of urgency by the offense to get to the line and snap.

I thought both teams left scores on the field,

I don;t watch you guys that often will be sure to when we aren't playing at the same time.

For the sake of being objective though, not a huge fan of that option read stuff I think great defenses will blow that up everytime and it won;t eb effective.

[BadMoonRising]

You may be the most awesome non-Panthers fan to ever grace this board with your presence.

Great post, perspective, and objectivity. Looking forward to more of your posts...

That being said, in regards to SMF's original post... I made the same complaint last year when we started giving games up in the second half. Chud definitely completely hunkers down and goes conservative with the lead in the second half.

When Deangelo lined up in the Wildcat, I was thinking, "Chud, you better not do it." He did. If we all know he's going to run it, so does ATL, and they attacked the play immediately and blew it up before he could reach the corner.

There was no creativity on our part, and no need for second-guessing on theirs. Just poor play calling. You've got to walk that line between keeping an offensive rhythm with manageable downs to keep the clock running and taking the kill shot.

At the least, if you drop Cam back in a spread formation or empty backfield, you give him the option to read the field and if nothing is there, he can scramble. To come out in run formation after run formation, it was a matter of wills because they knew what was coming... They won out.

I loved that screen for a touchdown in the 4th quarter, I thought that was an awsome call. you guys knew we were bringing the hosue and made us pay.

[footballisasport]

It was good playcalling all night just not EXECUTED correctly at the very end.

If Cam doesn't fumble we get the 1st down along with the W. Then everyone cheers aobut how great everything went... Unfortunately thats not what happened.

Instead of repeating the spin to continue protecting this pathetic team, why don't you go back and look at what actually happened. Cam DIDN'T CARELESSLY FUMBLED THE BALL AS YOU ARE SHOUTING. Your O-line tripped him up...If your O-line did their job and blocked for Cam instead of falling like a cluts, like they always seem to be doing, then Cam wouldn't have tripped over them and fallen on top of their ass sideways which then cause the ball to pop lose. Your damn O-line can't protect QB nor can they make simple plays to help him hold on to a damn win.

I'm sure those in the media are laughing their asses off at this team...Shaking their heads and glad that Luck isn't part of it. While they sit with a straight face in front of the camera continuely blaming the laziness of this team on Cam because they want to see him fail.

Yeah, all you folks seem to care about it your drama queen receiver racking up yardages so he can get into the HOF and you team winning despite their own efforts.

[Darth Biscuit]

The option read has its place only due to Cams athleticism, but we've overused it so far. I was glad to see more conventional runs today. Otherwise BMR pretty much nailed it.

[BadMoonRising]

Instead of repeating the spin to continue protecting this pathetic team, why don't you go back and look at what actually happened. Cam DIDN'T CARELESSLY FUMBLED THE BALL AS YOU ARE SHOUTING. Your O-line tripped him up...If your O-line did their job and blocked for Cam instead of falling like a cluts, like they always seem to be doing, then Cam wouldn't have tripped over them and fallen on top of their ass sideways which then cause the ball to pop lose. Your damn O-line can't protect QB nor can they make simple plays to help him hold on to a damn win.

I'm sure those in the media are laughing their asses off at this team...Shaking their heads and glad that Luck isn't part of it. While they sit with a straight face in front of the camera continuely blaming the laziness of this team on Cam because they want to see him fail.

Yeah, all you folks seem to care about it your drama queen receiver racking up yardages so he can get into the HOF and you team winning despite their own efforts.

you do know that every QB in the league takes hits, and if a QB is running the ball he will take hits, the OL didn't force Cam to fumble, he could of held on it better and got the first down.

Cam shouldn't be crucfied everyone has bad plays, but throwing an OL under the boss that have allowed cam to have the NFL highest yards per completion and that mostly kept him untouched when throwing down field, you sure your a Panther fan and not a Cam fan?

Cam fumbled when he got hit by defender, that happens when you run the ball, you have to hold on to it and they blocked well enough to get him past the first down.

Heck they blocked well enough to win the game.